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Thursday, April 5, 2012

What Determines A Starting Pediatric Nursing Salary?

By Scott Winy

To start a career in pediatric nursing you will need to start off by graduating from nursing school and then seeking additional, specialized training in pediatrics. Once you are qualified you will be able to work in hospitals, clinics, and family practices. Your specialty will be with working with children and their families and therefore you will need to be able to relate closely to people of all ages.

Your salary can range based on a few various factors. The place you live in as well as the facility you are working in can vary as well. Your experience levels play a role in your pediatric starting salary.

To become a this specialized nurse, most places require that you are a registered nurse (RN) and have complete four years of college with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Some places will allow you to be an RN with only an associate's degree, which normally takes half as long to get as a bachelor's degree. To become a RN, graduates must take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Once you have the required degree for where you intend to practice, you will also need to get additional training and pass the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) exam.

The salary for a PN differs from state to state. In California, the salary can be anywhere from $20,000 to $125,000. For Texas, it may be from $30,000 to $75,000. Your salary as a PN will also depend on how many years of experience you have. For most of those who are starting out, the average is around $20,000 a year. The average salary for pediatric nurses in general in the United States is around $71,000.

Certification -If you are a certified pediatric nurse, you are going to earn an average of $9,200 more than those that are not. There are many places that prefer you to be certified but once you begin working with them, your fees will be reimbursed. This certification is not required or mandated, but having one can increase your value to a company especially if the office cares for pediatrics.

Once you have graduated from your pediatric nursing program you will have completed all of the necessary supplemental classes or internships then you can actually apply for a pediatric position.

Your pediatric starting salary revolves around many factors. Nursing has become a popular career choice for many, and the demand in some states and cities is minimal. The key to making the most is to work in a city or state that has a high demand for pediatric nurses.

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